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COLLEGE PARK, Md. --- Tom Zengel hit two home runs and Trent Thornton went seven scoreless innings to improve to 5-0 as No. 13 North Carolina defeated Maryland 7-0 in the series-opener Friday night at Shipley Field. Zengel and Joe Dudek went back-to-back in Carolina's four-run third inning as Thornton and Reilly Hovis combined for UNC's second shutout of 2014.

Thornton and Maryland starter Jake Stinnett (2-3) traded zeroes in the first two innings before the Tar Heels struck for four in the third. Stinnett dominated Carolina early before Dudek lined a 1-2 pitch out to right center to lead off the third. Two pitches later, Zengel clubbed his first of the year out to left center to make it 2-0. UNC added two more on a Michael Russell double and a Tyler Ramirez grounder that Stinnett was unable to get to first.

Zengel struck again in the sixth, as he drove a 1-0 Stinnett offering out to right center to make it 5-0. Carolina (13-4, 3-1 ACC) added single runs in the seventh and eighth on sacrifice flies from Ramirez and Wood Myers for the final margin.

Maryland (10-5, 1-3 ACC) threatened on several occasions, but Thornton and Hovis consistently got big outs to strand 14 Terrapin baserunners. Thornton, who is now a perfect 5-0 in five starts this season, finished with eight strikeouts, including back-to-back Ks with the bases loaded in the sixth. His final two outs also came with the bases loaded, as the sophomore got Mike Rescigno swinging for the second out before getting Nick Cieri to pop out for the final out of the seventh.

Carolina will sent Benton Moss to the hill Saturday to oppose Maryland freshman Mike Shawaryn. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.